The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced in their Facebook page that the modified number color coding scheme remains suspended from January 4, 2021 until further notice.
The Facebook post, however, did not say if the suspension also includes Makati City which enforces its own modified number coding scheme.
So, until the MMDA officially announces when the color coding will be re-implemented, motorists going to their offices in Metro Manila can still drive on their coding day. But for Makati City, we don't know yet.
Car prices will go up, or auto specs to downgrade
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), on Monday, announced the imposition of a cash bond of PhP 70,000 for every imported Passenger Car and PhP 110,000 per imported Light Commercial Vehicle.
Reason? According to DTI, this is to protect the local automotive manufacturing sector from the apparent influx of imported cars.
You see, most car manufacturers now are importing cars either from Thailand or Indonesia since some local assembly plants shut down last year. Business common sense says it's more cheaper for automakers to import cars than build them here.
The additional tariff is expected to cause car prices to go up or some auto specs to downgrade because extra costs, generally, are always passed on to consumers. As to how much the price increase will be, we still don't know yet.
Will motorbikes get a price increase, too? They would if DTI decides to include motorcycles and scooters in the new tariff set-up.
Truck ban stays, or so it seems...
There is no word yet from the MMDA whether the just reimplemented truck ban will be lifted or not in the National Capital Region. So until then, the truck ban stays in NCR.
With the ban back in place since December 14 of 2020, trucks are not allowed on main roads in Metro Manila from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
On Edsa, from the Magallanes interchange in Makati City to North Avenue in Quezon City where traffic congestion is at its worst, trucks are totally banned 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Trucks are allowed only from North Avenue to Balintawak and from Magallanes to Roxas Boulevard.
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